12 Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder

What's normal?

by Amanda MacMillan

Everyone gets nervous or anxious from time to timewhen speaking in public, for instance, or when going through financial difficulty. For some people, however, anxiety becomes so frequent, or so forceful, that it begins to take over their lives.

How can you tell if your everyday anxiety has crossed the line into a disorder? It's not easy. Anxiety comes in many different formssuch as panic attacks, phobia, and social anxietyand the distinction between an official diagnosis and "normal" anxiety isn't always clear.

Here's a start: If you experience any of the following symptoms on a regular basis, you may want to talk with your doctor.